Apparatus for continuous treatment of material

Abstract

An installation for treating materials, comprising a tightly closed zone having a gastight inlet- and outlet, a shaking gutter with perforated bottom plate covered by a flexible plate with apertures, the whole being accommodated in the closed zone. The flexible material is able to move from the bottom plate, so that a fluid can pass from below the bottom through the bottom and the flexible plate. A fluid inlet opens below the bottom. The shaking gutter has a frequency of 200 to 400 vibrations/minute and an amplitude from 10 to 40 mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for continuous treatment of vegetable materials and the like whether or not under a pressure which differs considerably from the atmospheric pressure, comprising: a tightly closed treatment zone means connected with gas-tight means for discharging materials and at least one inlet means for treatment medium debouching into said treatment zone, said treatment zone means being defined by a device for treating materials having a material support with apertures for cooperation with vibrator means for imparting periodic movement having at least one vertical vibration component, said vibrator means being adapted to cooperate with said inlet means permitting said treatment medium flow through said material support during the action of said vibrator means. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said device for treating materials being formed of at least one shaking gutter having a material support in cooperative relationship with said vibrator means for generating a shaking movement having at least one vertical vibration component, whilst the said material support having a perforated bottom cooperating with a member for closing the apertures which member moves upwards and downwards with the same frequency as said vibrator means, to thereby open and close in cyclical fashion the apertures in said bottom. 
     
     
       3. The installation as defined in claim 2, wherein; said amplitude of the shaking gutter ranges from 10 to 40 mm. 
     
     
       4. An installation as defined in claim 2, wherein: said member for closing said apertures is flexible and connected to the bottom of support means permitting it to move flexibly from the bottom under the action of the vertical vibration component. 
     
     
       5. The installation as defined in claim 1, wherein: said inlet means for treatment medium being connected to a source of sterilization medium. 
     
     
       6. An installation as defined in claim 5, wherein: said inlet means for treatment medium is connected to a steam source. 
     
     
       7. The installation as defined in claim 6, wherein: said steam source being a source of compressed steam. 
     
     
       8. The installation as defined in claim 1, wherein: said treatment zone being formed of a gas outlet. 
     
     
       9. The installation as defined in claim 8, wherein; said gas-outlet being connected with a condenser. 
     
     
       10. The installation as defined in claim 1, wherein: the frequency of the vibrator means being 200 to 400 vibrations/min. 
     
     
       11. The installation as defined in claim 1, wherein; said material outlet debouches into a drying device. 
     
     
       12. An installation as defined in claim 11, wherein; said drying device is a flash dryer. 
     
     
       13. The installation as defined in claim 1, wherein: said inlet means for treatment medium debouches under the bottom of said support means. 
     
     
       14. The installation as defined in claim 1, wherein: the frequency of the vibrator means being at most 1000 vibrations/min.